Marcela’s Story – Recovery from Levaquin Depression and Anxiety

*The following is an individual’s story of surviving fluoroquinolone toxicity. It is not medical advice. Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of the story. Thank you, and please be cautious with all treatments.

I want to tell my story of recovery that was a little different from all I read here on the site.

It all started in January 2016 with a persistent throat infection where the doctor in my city prescribed me a course of Levaquin (Levofloxacin) 750mg once daily for 5 days with prednisone for an allergy in my airway. With the second tablet started to realize I was getting anxious, depressive and could not understand what was happening, and could not sleep at night. The next day I woke up worse, anxiety and depression, fear were almost uncontrollable, so I tried the doctor who had passed me the antibiotic and told her what was happening, he told me that the antibiotic was not to blame for what I was feeling and told me to finish the course of it. Still not knowing the side effects of fluoroquinolones, I finished the course with a lot of suffering.

The days went by and I realized that I had not returned to be the same as before, although I was very lucky to have had no other side effects such as nerve problems, neuropathies and tendon problems. My nights sleep was horrible, I had lost interest in everything, was afraid to do the simplest things that I used to love and had no control of my own emotions until I looked on the fluoroquinolones and my world fell with everything I read, I thought I was doomed to live side effects for life.

In February I sought a medical psychiatrist who prescribed me an antidepressant (Escitalopram). It made my anxiety much worse and gave up using it. I started researching and found that using a benzodiazepine also could only delay my recovery then dropped out of conventional medicine and looked into gentle healing methods.

I cut alcoholic beverages, caffeine and tried to keep away from sugar. As I sought acupuncture and yoga to help me endure the side effects until gradually they were becoming less intense. Over the months I started to have good days where I could do pretty much everything that I liked to do before Levaquin, and others where the symptoms were back and I could not do anything, just trying to distract me until the day could pass and that the best days were back. During this time also I avoided any kind of allopathic medicine, especially NSAIDS and steroids. I also took several tests and they all came back normal, including vitamins and minerals. The things that helped me at that time were: exercise (I ask to carefully those who have tendon problems and nerves) breathing exercises, which help a lot in anxiety, reading, yoga, religion (spirituality) is wedded to God me It helped immensely to go through this whole situation that was by far one of the hardest I ever had in my entire life. I tried to let my body recover alone because I thought so would be the best way to get full recovery, without haste, without despair, even seeing that I had horrible days where my mind was going down hill and that it was difficult to believe any recovery.

Well now I’m almost 6 months out and I can say that I am not fully recovered, but I’m on the road today still feel anxiety and occasional fear, I still have some bad days, but I know I will get there. I can now sleep well, I am eating well, I do exercises and I am almost back to all that I liked before. I hope next year be able to return to my studies I had to stop because of problems related to the antibiotic. Stress can be terrible for people who are seeking recovery. Try to look for something to make you well, look for something that brings relief for all those months I tried many things that could help me get some relief in my symptoms, and without realizing I was recovering. I wish you all a great recovery, have calm, have faith and above all do not despair, there is no miracle cure for the problem, I think the best cure is time. Avoid taking everything you read on the internet because what may be good for one may not be for others. Any questions or concerns will be here to help them.

** The story above is truthful, accurate and told to the best of the ability of the writer. It is not intended as medical advice. No person who submits his or her story, nor the people associated with Floxie Hope, diagnoses or treats any illness. The story above should not be substituted for professionally provided medical advice. Please consult your doctor before trying anything that has been mentioned in this story, or in any other story on this site. Please also note that people have varying responses to the treatments mentioned in each story. What helps one person may not help, and may even hurt, another person. It is important that you understand that supplements, IVs, essential oils, and all other treatments, affect people differently depending on the millions of variables that make each of us unique. Please use appropriate caution and prudence, and get professional medical advice.

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86 thoughts on “Marcela’s Story – Recovery from Levaquin Depression and Anxiety”

Marcela, I too was given an FLQ at the same time as a prednisone. The anxiety, depression (suicidal) was nightmarish. I also had about 30 other physical side effects so it was amplified. It is so disturbing that the majority of doctors will say “can’t be the Levaquin/Cipro/etc) without even bothering to research the side effects. Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery.

Marcela, thank you for sharing your story! It’s so good to hear of your recovery and that just giving it time and, using natural techniques, was the answer for you. It’s not appealing to many of us to treat a problem caused by a “medication” with another “medication.” Yoga and meditation has been helpful for me too.

Tammy I’m still not fully recovered, but at least I got back to my routine before being able to exercise me, sleep, study, work, things that for me were impossible in the beginning. I believe that full recovery will only come with time.

Hi Marcela,it certainly is a process and – while I have not made a full recovery either – time did heal a great deal and I’ve been able to really be in tune with my body and even make it stronger than before. There are many, many more great days now than there were when I first took Levaquin. I was not taking very good care of myself before taking Levaquin, and now I make my health my top priority. I know your article will be so helpful to many. Each of us has a unique experience and healing journey. I so appreciate everyone that has shared their stories!

Tammy, I read your story and found it very good healing methods that you used to recover, did not use drugs and I think you’re right, I like you. I’ve always been a very healthy person, doing exercises 5 times a week, did not drink or smoke, it helped my recovery happen faster.

ah…well about 85 %. My breathing ,which was terrifyingly labored, is much better, thought not what it was before. I still have vision issues—large floaters, black spots and blurred vision on and off in one eye, plus light sensitivity. I still have pelvic area pressure as well as pressure around the neck where it feels like my nerves are squeezing and choking me. Anxiety is much improved but still not quite normal. I still get phantom smells too that smell like smoke or dirty ashtrays. Pretty gross. My knee just finally gave out last week, and an MRI showed torn meniscus but I still think it is related since I had started getting these little popping, crackling feelings in the months after I started Cipro.

At my worst, I was barely walking and down 30+ pounds–just very frail, weak, and feeling like death was around the corner. I had horrible insomnia where even with a pill I would get only 1-5 hours, and didn’t sleep at all for the first couple weeks. My GI was trashed, I had olfactory nerve damage so that every single thing in the world was asphyxiating (hard to explain just how horrific this was). All together I had about 30 side effects, so in spite of the remaining problems I have come a long long way. In fact, I had started exercising again, walking on the beach a lot…until this knee thing last week. 😦

Could I enquire, when you say that you had GI issues did these extend to periods of profound and terrifying constipation? If so, how did you resolve this and how long did it take for the constipation to subside?

Thanks, and sorry for probing!

It’s just that mine came on, out of nowhere, at week five post poisoning and has now been with me (in varying degrees of severity) for the past eight days…

I was so bad that feeling “normal” became very subjective. I thought I was much improved at around 1 1/2 years, but at 2 years I realized that I hadn’t been as improved as I had thought! We are all very different, so please don’t judge yourself by someone else’s timeline. I am now at 2 years and 4 months, and still have several side effects, but compared to where I was—there really is no comparison. Like night and day. I am now able to do most things I did before.

PJune 27, 2017 at 11:20 am

Thank You again! Knowing there could be an “end” to this, is giving me hope!!!!! Thank you, thank you!

LaylaNovember 12, 2018 at 9:32 pm

L did you by any chance experience depersonalization. Feeling like the days are all blurring together ? Is the choking breathing symptom gone now? I have those too. Thanks!

LNovember 12, 2018 at 9:52 pm

Hmmmm. Not sure about depersonalization, but not totally clear on how that presents. I will tell you that my mental state was terrifying. Definitely suicidal and paranoid and anxiety that is hard to even describe. Once I was able to even drive again, over a year later, even though the anxiety was not as bad as it had been, it was still with me. If someone so much as honked at me, I would have to pull off the road. I had been in Trader Joes one day, one of my first trips into a store in more than a year. A woman’s cart tapped mine. Just tapped. Barely hit it, and I froze, like a deer in headlights. I could not move, speak, nothing. She kept apologizing, and I just stood there, tears rolling down my cheeks, unable to say a word. (I felt so badly about it.) It took, I would say, a full minute before I was able to move again.

As far as the days all blurring together, they did in retrospect. But while it was happening it was terrifyingly, painfully slow.

The breathing thing has manifested a couple different ways. At first, it was as if a door just slid shut mid-breath. This was the worst. I would just get a tiny bit of breath, and then it would stop. Then I would take another tiny breath. IT was absolute torture. I was like that for several months. Don’t know how I lasted through that. After that time I was still not breathing fully, but it wasn’t quite as suffocating. A researcher suggested it was mitochondrial damage to the heart muscle. I really wasn’t breathing normally again for about a year. Then I was ok for a couple years, until I had another bizarre breathing thing for a few months. Wasn’t asthma—but wasn’t quite like the first thing either. Not sure what was going on there, but that finally left. I am having issues now related to congestion. Again, no one knows what it is. I have seen an allergist, ENT, Internist. Now I am seeing a doctor of Chinese medicine. One thought I had was that it could be mast cell disorder caused by the cipro. Have no idea though really. But the really bad really scary “gasping for breath’ I first experienced? Nope. That’s gone. and I trust it’s gone for good. I do take mitoq to try to help support my mitochondria as much as possible.

LNovember 12, 2018 at 9:55 pm

also, since you mentioned choking. while I was having the breathing issue, I also had a sense on and off of being choked (it was more external) I think this was probably nerve damage since I had quite a bit.

Hi I took the levoquin in Jan 2018 and I have also had the feeling of throat tightening terrible discomfort- hard to describe- feels like it’s going to close – back in jan- Feb. I had an upper GI because my relfux went crazy after the levoquin- I am just figuring all this out- I am better– but have a long way to go– but my throat is the worst problemright now– just wondering if you have anything that helped for that- thank you so very much- Lisa

Well it’s hard to say, since I was doing a lot of IVs. It is now two years since that last post and while I do on occasion get that sensation around the throat it is rare, and not nearly as frightening as it had been. I have also since then gotten prolozone injections in the knees for the torn menisucus and they are doing well.

AS for GI issues, I stayed far away from MDs because I was such a mess, and had been thrown under the bus by a dozen of assorted specialties. I knew they would try to get me on a proton pump inhibitor which has its own set of problems…and most people don’t have too much stomach acid, but too little. My gut was so ravaged that I dropped 1/4 of my body weight in 6 weeks and had horrible elimination problems (including WHITE stool!) It took a while, but I started out using dgl licorice and then went on multi-strain high quality probiotics, digestive enzymes and hcl betaine.

For me, I assume the neck thing is nerve damage, since I had head to toe nerve damage…to my extremities, my olfactory and ocular nerves, nerve related back pain. It could be that or perhaps related to mitochondrial issues. (I was also struggling to breathe for months, and suspect either mitochondrial damage to the heart muscle or CNS damage.)

I wish I could be more helpful, but I regards to the neck thing I really don’t know what helped. But I hope it’s comforting for you to know that mine went away …mostly.

LisaJune 11, 2018 at 7:22 pm

Yes that is a huge comfort- thank you so much! It is the scariest part for me right now. I haven’t had any iv’s I’m just trying to eat healthy so far. Thank you so very much!!

LJune 11, 2018 at 7:29 pm

You’re welcome….healing the gut is HUGE so your’re definitely headed in the right direction. It was doubly terrifying for me because at the same time I was literally gasping for every breath. So between the two is was just nightmarish, esp with all the other side effects layered over it. Now when it comes it’s not at all scary…just damn annoying! And it’s usually very brief…

LisaJune 17, 2018 at 8:22 am

Thank you so much L- I feel like I’m going backwards now– so frustrating- and I feel like I’m Shakey on the inside and yep so scared and anxious all the time– thank you it helps a lot to think I can get though this

Glad to hear you are recovering. I am 5 months out today and while I am physically better, I still have this sense of doom and gloom constantly…do you have this? I have some mild anxiety that comes and goes but I cannot tell if it is chemically induced or self induced. I want to go out and meet people but I am afraid. How are you mentally these days?

Hi John, I’m going to seven months away and many things I improved, I feel tired, my sleep is nice as well, but I still have anxiety that comes and back and depression, fear, checked my levels of vitamins B12 and Vitamin D are low, I begin to spare, I hope to help me with this

This is all stemming from the 5 doses of levaquin? I took it a few days ago and have had to call into work today and yesterday bc I felt so awful. Insomnia, tiredness, depressive thoughts, anxiety ect… I only took two pills and stopped. I’m hopibg the chest tightness and anxiety goes away soon so I can work again 😦

Regarding loss of sense of smell. A neurologist that specialized in taste and smell found I scored very low in smell. At another neurologist’s office I couldn’t identify nutmeg as anything. I found this site below this year. Low zinc levels affect sense of smell. I did the zinc status check and tasted nothing. Just started taking zinc so I can’t tell you if it’s worked. Essential oils have also been helpful. Chemical smells would create anxiety, so I use the essential oils to calm that down

Taken from every woman over 29/Trudy Scott/ zinc status test website:

I, however, find that the majority of my clients with anxiety, pyroluria, depression and/or sugar and carb cravings are low in zinc. I have all my clients do the zinc status test when we start working together and then we retest their levels each week until they have good zinc levels. I use zinc sulfate, a liquid zinc that tastes a certain way depending on zinc levels.

Jaci,
I saw an intergrated Doctor who is also a medical Doctor who tested me for zinc. It was the exact opposite to what you are saying. For me the taste was foul, so I was short on zinc. My husband said it tasted like water, no need for zinc.
Sorry I can’t understand, maybe your test is different. My husband has never been floxed, I have. I also had a hair test which indicated my zinc levels were low.

Jaci,
You are right, I have just researched this and also questioned my intergrated Doctor, he told me he was wrong after re reading the lable on the tester bottle. My God you can’t trust anyone these days with your health. You have to research EVERYTHING. Thanks for your post as I would not have found out
Barbara

I am guessing it is nerve damage. I had the opposite problem after Cipro. Hyperosmia, where scents are exaggerated. It’ hard to explain just how horrific this is. Had it stayed at the level it was, I would not have been able to go on. (This was in addition to suffocating like breathing and dozens of other side effects.) Everything in the world asphyxiated me…flowers, lotions, food…even a couple drops of diluted dish soap would make me choke. It prevented me from even walking outside because the smell of the flowers was so strong I couldn’t breathe. It was as if I was constantly surrounded by huge vats of bleach—that’s how strong all scents were. After some emails with experts in the field they all concurred it was nerve damage. It is now down to about 10%—scents are still stronger than normal, but bearable. However, it was also replaced by phantom smells—usually a disgust burning smoke or cigarette smell, which again is common for nerve damage.

Hi. I am currently four months in. I am experiencing anxiety, which I never had before. Did you happen to have body tremors during this time? I tremble non stop. This is the most terrible thing I’ve ever experienced. I also have heart palpitations.
Thank you.

Anxiety is a very common side effect…not “I have to give a speech” anxiety but “someone is pointing a gun at me” fight-or-flight anxiety….so know that that is unfortunately quite normal with these toxins. I have heard it is damage to the gaba receptors. There are things you can try like measured breathing (inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts then exhale for 7 or 8 counts) This can help flip you from the sympathetic to parasympathetic nervous system where your heart rate slows and your are more calm. Meditation can help too.

I had “spasms” in a couple fingers but not tremors, but I know others have had tremors and heart palpitations are again very common with these drugs so try not to get too freaked out about it. It will pass in time. Some might see a doctor, but frankly I have lost all faith in most doctors after this UNLESS they are NDs or integrated Mds. If you are very worried, search for an integrative MD in your area. I now have an integrative internist and believe it or not, a Harvard-trained integrative cardiologist.

Thank you for your response. I fear that this is never going to go away! It’s so scary and brutal to go through each day like this. Also, I have lost close to ten pounds. I am praying (I’m now at 99 lbs) that this will change. Trying to eat……but sometimes I just feel plain sick! Thank you for this hope. I keep PRAYING each and every day that God will lift this from me. I have a wonderful life, one which I would like to jump back into.

Thanks again…..you’re the best.

LJune 27, 2017 at 11:44 am

OH honey, I am so sorry. I know how scary it is. I had brutal anxiety, no-sleep-at-all anxiety AND I was struggling to breathe. I was terrified. But I can assure you, you will get past this. I too lost weight—36 pounds in 6 weeks. It took me months to get it back on, but part of the problem was that because I was struggling to breathe it was hard to chew and swallow! I was relying mostly on smoothies. IT is very important that you take a good quality probiotic—one with a number of different strains and 50 billion cfu. Your gut needs to get back to a healthy state. I hope you at also taking a good magnesium supplement…threonate or orotate are good. Avoid fluoride, GMOs, and any non organic meats that could contain antibiotics. Also avoid all NSAIDs. What part of the country are you in? If you post, there may be someone who can recommend a good ND or integrative doc that is already familiar with FLQ toxicity

PJune 27, 2017 at 11:53 am

Thank you for responding again! You are making me feel so much better. Yes, have been taking a probiotic since I swallowed the first pill of poison! Haven’t stopped. And yes, magnesium everyday. Adding a few others (fish oil, D3, multi), hoping this may help. I too have had the breathing thing….but thankfully, it is off and on. Doing acupuncture and yin yoga (just began), hoping this helps. I have been tryin to eat “clean” and keep all processed foods and sugar out of my body. I have an appointment with Neuro next week……God knows where that will get me. I live very close to Phila. (outside of Phila.).

Thank you again for your time and kindness.

LJune 27, 2017 at 12:13 pm

All good—and yes D is very important for a number of reasons, as is fish oil. If your neuro is not familiar with flq toxicity, I am not sure how much help you will get. Mine (I later found out after reading his notes) said I was delusional and hysterical. This is unconscionable since the warning about possible permanent nerve damage is YEARS old.

I was slapped with “anxiety disorder” by the doctor who gave me the poison, weeks after taking it. Needless to say, I stopped seeing her. Thank you for your input and understanding. I feel A LOT better after hearing from you. I will continue to push through this journey. One thing it has given me, is knowing how grateful I am for my family, and people “out there” like yourself, who are so very caring.

LJune 27, 2017 at 12:55 pm

good…hang in there. and let me know if you have any more questions

PJune 27, 2017 at 1:25 pm

I do have one more question…..I was given .5 mg. of Ativan to help with sleep. I am thinking this is a very bad idea for my brain……what are your thoughts????? This frightens me even more (As I mentioned, this is new to me……four months after Levaquin). Thank you.

LJune 27, 2017 at 1:56 pm

well, you definitely do not want to be taking them for long. However, my insomnia was so bad (literally ZERO hours) I was put on the generic for ambien (and even WITH them I got 1-5 hours) I used the for months and then weaned off. I believe Ativan is a benzo, which you have to of course be very careful with. I did use another benzo, Xanax a couple times. I needed dental work in the midst of this nightmare when I was gasping for breath, so it was hard to have work done. The Xanax relaxed me enough to get through it. So I would say to use as little as possible, for as short a time as possible, but I think you’ll be ok.

PJune 27, 2017 at 2:54 pm

Thank you. I intend to stop taking it. My email address is cthecroutons@verizon.net. You seem like such a fabulous person. It would be great if I could continue to correspond with you. I would like to hear HOW the heck you got through this on a daily basis. What you did, how you passed your time and remained sane!!!

P, I also live in NEPA. Try Dr. Kracht at Woodlands Healing Center in Quakertown. My husband has started seeing him. He is a D.O. that takes insurance and has experience in IV infusions. My husband and I both have terrible anxiety tremors and take Solaray brand Ashwagandha. It helps us within 20 min. From the first time we ever tried it. We also take Bluebonnett Valerian for the anxiety instead of Klonopin. Hope thathelps. Good luck!

Hi! I just read your story. I too was prescribed Levofloxacin for 7 days related to a skin infection. I am already on anti-depressant medicine’s but during the course of taking this particular antibiotic things was spiraling out of control, quickly. I was depressed more than usual, anxiety was heightened and insomnia was a repetitive thing. I feel awful! I feel like I’m in a battle for my life every day. Just struggling to be normal again. Thanks for sharing your story and enlightening me that the symptoms and everything I was experiencing was not just in my head .

I had pneumonia a little over 18 months ago. Mild case that was caught early and was treated with Levofloxacin. I am a 59 years old and somewhat of a competitive runner. After being off the meds for a few days, my first short run was met with Achilles problems and calf pain. Waited a few weeks and started the trail back to running Half Marathons again. However, starting about a month after I stopped Levofloxacin, I started having some issues that seemed like anxiety attacks about once a month. Depression was also starting to seep in. The pattern of monthly anxiety attacks continued with different levels. Some mild, some so intense that it took me 10 minutes to recover. 6 months later I was running times far from my pre pneumonia on my 10K and Half marathons. But at least I was making progress. However, I had to drop out during a few races because of the panic attacks. There was never a real reason for them. Just random, nothing seemed to really set them off. Depression started to get worse. Finally went to the Dr., the day after I had 12 panic attacks in one evening/day. 14 months after pneumonia. I was prescribed me Celexa. After 12 weeks of taking that, the side effects were just too much. Intense sweating, dizziness, lack of motivation, laziness, no endurance. I tanked in a couple of 10K’s and find it hard to run even 4 miles as fatigue sets in. Depression is worse than before I started taking Celexa. I am going to wean myself off of Celexa. I have always been an athlete my entire life. Running has been my passion. I was a good runner. A lot of hardware collected over the years. Now, I am a shadow of what I was pre Levofloxacin. Easy to blame I suppose, but I didn’t just get really old overnight. This has been mental torture for me. Levofloxacin is poison.

so sorry to hear, Clay. yes, Cipro, levofloxacin, avelox, etc all POISON. Thanks to the addition of the fluoride molecule they can breech the brain blood barrier and wreak all kinds of havoc. I was suicidal for months (although since I was gasping for breath, I am not sure it was directly from the Cipro or because I was struggling so much to breathe.) They also damage gaba receptors and effect sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. I totally understand that anxiety. I was in that “fight or flight” phase for months on end. Oddly enough, before this happened I had experience panic attacks years ago so I know how terrifying they can be. I didn’t have them after, but again, the anxiety was through the roof and I cried constantly and never felt normal. Some things that can help a little “in the moment” is the change your breathing. Inhale through your nose for 4 counts and the “push” it out through pursed lips for 7 or 8. This can help put you back into the parasympathetic nervous system, which is where you want to be, if you are not being chased by a bear. You might also try some adaptogens, like maca, which is good to put in smoothies.

Glad you haven’t had any more issues with tendons. If you should in the future, look into prolozone therapy. (I did it for torn meniscus post Cipro and so far so good…10 months post injections.)

I too was in amazing shape pre Cipro. I was even fantasizing about being the oldest female competitor on American Ninja Warrior. But that ship has sailed. I suffered so much injury to my body.

Anyhow it will get better. Keep taking magnesium and doing all the other healthy stuff you are already doing.

Heyy Marcela I’m expierencing the same symtoms after taking lavaquin I’m only 21 yeara old and I’m expierencing a lot of muscle weakness in my back and head pressure its kinda getting better I’m taking NAC vitamin c and magnesium and d3 and a multivitamin I don’t know what to do to recover what supplimenta helped you??? My email is alexandravalencia990@gmail.com

My name is Sofia and I may have had negative effects due to Levaquin as well. I have a history of Pneumonia and had it again in June of this year. I was put on Levaquin by a doctor and then received the vaccination in July sometime. At the end of August, my life completely changed. It all started with an episode of severe neck tightness almost like my throat was closing up while I was eating. I panicked thinking it was an allergic reaction and took Benadryl. To make a long story short, after that day I literally went to urgent care twice, the ER twice, my doctors office too many times I can’t count, 2 Different gastroenterologists, an endocrinologists, an ENT, gotten a swallow test done, gotten an endoscopy, gotten a thyroid ultrasound and a thyroid biopsy done (benign nodule), had a food allergy test, many blood tests, so many things I can’t count. I been to the accupuncture, I have tried meditation/yoga, I’ve hired a cognitive behavioral therapist and have been journaling, breathing exercises, etc. I’ve had diagnosis of possible thyroiditis, esophageal spasms, acid reflux, silent reflux, allergies, and yes anxiety. It has been the most dark, frustrating, trying and scary time I’ve ever experienced. The constant throat “attacks” I call them for the past almost 4 months since August have been debilitating. At first my throat was so inflammed I couldn’t even swallow so lost 20+ pounds. Now mind you I am an athlete, very fit, and a fitness expert so don’t have much weight to loose. I’m certain I had some sort of virus going on that probably started all this off in August. But the underlying root cause is something no one doctor could ever tell me. They just kept diagnosing “symptoms.” Now months later after many twists and turns, I am starting to put the puzzle pieces together. Yes I probably had an underlying anxiety going on my whole life but this constant physical manifestation after this viral thing is just not normal. Recently I have been doing my own research and was trying to find something about the pneumonia vaccination and couldn’t find much. Then I came across the link between gut health and brain health and it all started to make sense. When I was put on that antibiotic in mid June, although I was on a probiotic, it probably killed my gut flora among other things. Probably started this anxiety panic attack thing off. I kept getting sick off and on (immunity is also linked to gut health) and after this virus attacked my thyroid/throat, the anxiety from the antibiotic probably set in full force. Since the gut and brain communicate, I probably did have some silent reflux going on, hence why they gave me that diagnosis. I know it’s a far stretch but the puzzle pieces are fitting. The underlying start was that evil antibiotic Levaquin (which I was told was the “Mac Daddy” of all antibiotics). I’m allergic to amoxicillin so couldn’t take that. Because of all the literature and all of your anectodal accounts that Levaquin is linked to anxiety and depression, I am almost certain this is the case for me. It’s normal to have some depressive times and some anxiety throughout your life. But what I have been experiencing is life altering and although it’s gotten better over the past months, I am not the same person I was before. I am fearful, I don’t like to do the same things, don’t like to be alone, I am unmotivated, and constantly having this physical and panic attacks from time to time that literally stop everything. Feels like my throat is closing and sense of doom. At first was purely this throat tightening that felt like someone has their hands wrapped around, like a muscle spasms almost. Just a few things to note: I was given a steroid shot on my behind the day after the initial attack by urgent care, was put on methylprednisone at first for “thyroiditis”, then switched to prednisone by urgent care for “esophageal spasms,” then again put on methylprednisone a month ago again for the thyroid flare up I had yet again. I was on the lower side for magnesium levels so have started taking 400 and working my way up to 800 mg per night. I am also taking an anti acid medicine (protonix) twice per day (my doctor doesn’t want me to stop it until we rule out reflux). I also am taking a probiotic of 30 billion per day (I’m thinking I should increase this to maybe help). I did not take a probiotic from end of August to mid September so have been taking it for almost 3 months consistently. I have an anti anxiety med Klonopin that I WAS taking three times a day in September, 0.5 mg. I slowly tapered down to 2 times per day, then once, then 0.25 twice per day then 0.25 mg once per day, then as needed, and now I only take it when I really need it which is during the big attacks which I have maybe once or twice a month. So I know there’s been progress but I still have this constant physical anxiety pretty much several times a day and I just try to ignore it or deal with it without meds. I am trying to remain positive and optimistic despite the circumstance. Even during the darkest hour of this whole ordeal, I always told myself there is a silver lining, there is a reason this is happening. I am glad I came across this thread and hoping some of y’all can shed some light on my situation. I think maybe therapy for my underlying anxiety I’ve had, magnesium and probiotics, immune boosting foods, and stress/anxiety relieving things such as therapy, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises and journaling will be small pieces to the solution. But if anyone could give me anything else I am missing, I would appreciate it. Thank you so much

Do not take prednisone or any steroids! It will exacerbate your problems. I had over 30 side effects including feeling like I was being strangled. It mostly went away…now just get an ocassional kind of numb feeling around the neck.. Stay on the probiotics. Take magnesium. Avoid fluoride, gmos, etc. Eat clean. Check back through old posts and find a good ND or integrative MD.

Hi everyone. 27 year old male here. I was prescribed 500 mg levaquin for ten days for chronic sinutis. After the third dose I started feeling like my tendons in my wrist were weak and hurting. I then went on to read if this could be the medicine doing this to me, and was horrified by what I read. I called the doc the next day, and she said stop taking the levaquin immediately. I did and thought because I had only taken three I wouldn’t be in the trenches long. But Christ was I wrong. Both physical and mental effects. Tendons in both wrists, shoulders, knees, and ankles are hurting bad. Not excruciating, but notably bad. And I’m afraid to exercise and weight lift again.

Saturday night I went to a bar (piss poor choice I know) because a good friend of mine was home from California for Christmas. I, for no reason at all, just started to have a complete anxiety attack at the bar after three beers to the point where I had to leave the bar and go for a 20 minute walk just to be able to go back in to sip on water for the rest of the night. I also feel like I’m highly sensitive to sound, like every clank of a class and every bass drops hits me like an elephant on the chest.

I’ll also be overwhelmed by malaise and fatigue. I’ll be fine throughout the day, and just out of nowhere this weakness hits and I’m out for the count. I don’t know if this partially due to the remaining affects from my sinus infection because i do still feel like I have a sinus headache. But I’m scared shitless.

I’ve always had some lingering anxiety but NOTHING like this. I was otherwise is decent health. Took and been taking Tylenol sinus, Zyrtec for allergies, mucinex 12 hour for
Medicine and biotin, vitamin C, magnesium 250 mg, and CoQ110 maximum dose for vitamin in take. It’s only been exactly a week today since my last dose, and I know this all sounds like small potatoes compared to the other horror stories I’ve read. But I’m still scared shitless and am desperately looking for advice and relatable discussion. I’m just praying this isn’t permanent.

Also would like to add that I was NEVER told about the harsh side effects by my doctor or pharmacist. I was prescribed prednisone along with it, and luckily never took it, as I beat it can make things even worse. But I do have lasting sinus problems from my sinus infection and wonder if it’s safe to take now. Both for my sinus condition and to put a little pep in my step. Doctors appointment tomorrow, and hoping for something, ANYTHING that leans in the way of good news.

I was given prednisone at same time and think rhas one reason I was do severely flowed. I would encourage you to find an integrative/ functional medicine doctor or Nd. Allopathy are mostly clueless unless they are integrative. I also encourage to think about filing a lawsuit against the dr and perhaps the pharmacy depending on which state you live in. Some require a pharmacy Consultation on all new RX. That is not made compliant by that littke electronic signatures box in done states. Also there was a new Dds warning at least 6 months ago that flqs should NOT be used for certain simple infections. Your dr was negligent. I urge you to seek out s medical malpractice atty, preferably one familiar with pharmaceutical law. Statute of limitations varies by state and you must file within that tone md of be forever barred from legal action

LDecember 25, 2017 at 5:00 pm

Ack!!!! Trying to type on tiny phone so all my s. Turn into d. Also it was an FDA warning

If your doctor gives you benzodiazepines to deal with the anxiety, please be careful with them. They can be helpful, and can get you through the difficult times, but don’t get dependent on them or getting off of them can be just as difficult and damaging as the initial anxiety. They can also have paradoxical effects, and can lead to a long-lasting syndrome of toxicity. Taking them is certainly better than being suicidal, but please be very, very, very careful if you are prescribed them.

I suggest supplementing magnesium, brewer’s yeast (it has uridine and lots of B vitamins), and melatonin to sleep. Meditate. Go to a calming peaceful place. Try to stay away from things that induce anxiety.

Know that this is a symptom of fluoroquinolone toxicity and that it will pass.

So sort bobby. All sadly normal with this poison. I had 30 side effects, several terrifying. I also had /have over reactions to loud noises (though it made my normal hearing worse). Vision problems, heart problems, torn meniscus, peripheral neuropathy and more. Re any problems you may experience with torn ligaments and other connective tissues do look into prolozone injections. Helped my torn meniscus a LOT. Not too expensive and after several months it helps the body to heal itself. You can get From some NDs, integrative doctors and sone sports medicine doctors. As for the anxiety mind was crippling but I did ge past it. Even enjoying coffee again.

How long did it take you to get over the anxiety? I just feel with three 500mg pills the affects shouldn’t be that bad? I recently bought 750mg Gaba supplements and probiotics. They worked this morning, but now I’m back to feeling like total garbage. Anyone recommend using two 750mg Gaba pills a day?

My sinus problems I originally used the levaquin for are back and I can’t get an appointment with my ENT until the eighth. I still have my prescription prednisone, but am scared to use it because of my ongoing anxiety.

BobbyDecember 26, 2017 at 3:32 pm

Feels like I’m about to get an ulcer from all this anxiety. Lower left stomach is now in pain.

BobbyDecember 26, 2017 at 3:59 pm

Also can’t believe I forgot to mention this. My skin feels like it’s sunburned among my whole body. There’s no redness or rash, just FEELS burnt. BUT when I wash my face in the shower, it gets especially irritated. My face is red right after the shower. Like burn victim red. After about 10-15 minutes (with some moisturizer) it goes away. The burning sensation is always there though, especially if I scratch an itch. Needless to say, another anxiety amplifier. It’s gotten a little better throughout the week, but still a significant nuisance. Anyone feel anything similar or know what I’m talking about?

AaronDecember 28, 2017 at 12:10 am

Hi Booby my story is similar to yours except I beleive my major mistake was taking iboneurofen at the same time, I also took 3 500mg pills of ciproflaxin. It’s been 5 months now and I still feel like rubbish though the muscle pains have diminished greatly I’m still suffering from intense anxiety and major depression which I’ve never had before. Infact before this night mare I often used to tell my wife how happy I was. It astonishes me how we were given this poison over a simple sinus infection I’ve spoken to a few docs since and they’ve told me it’s unusual to prescribe such a powerful antibiotic for that, anyway I still try to find hope and find myself lingering on this website for inspiration let’s hope it gets better!

Hey Aaron! Glad to see you’re doing better physically. I have to say physically speaking I don’t hurt as much before. My left wrist feels a bit tingly on the palm side, but overall the tendon pain is a lot better. Although, I haven’t been back to the gym yet so I guess we’ll see.

My anxiety is still messed up though. I’m terrified of having a soda even. My problem on top of the lingering pain is that the sinus problem I had that I was taking the levaquin for is back. My face feels really congested and my ears feel congested. Very sensitive to sound, and I think that’s why I feel so fatigued, lightheaded, and a big source of my anxiety in general. I have a dos pack of Methylprednisolone, but I’m scared to take that, even ten days later, because of the horror stories. I’m thinking of going to an urgent care and asking for another safer anti biotic but I have no idea if that’s even safe.

What have you been doing for your anxiety all this time? Any meds? I’ve been using probiotics and Gaba and it seems to help during the day. I’m just confused as to where to go next.

Please do NOT take the prednisone. I was severely floxed and I think it was due in part to prednisone. What you might try for the sinus infection is oil of oregano. Buy the kind that comes already mixed in a carrier oil like natural factors. Place 3 drops under the tongue and let it sit a few seconds. Then add a bit of water and swallow go that 3 times a day for a week. Other options to look into are olive leaf extract and colloidal silver.

I’ve decided against the prednisone but I needed SOMETHING for this sinus pressure that wasn’t going away at all with otc products. I went to urgent care and he gave me amoxicillin and generic loratadine. Just couldn’t take the sinus pressure anymore. Hopefully this helps a lot more than it hurts…

LDecember 28, 2017 at 4:25 pm

I know how that is. At least the amoxicillin is one of the more benign antibiotics. But try to pick up the oregano oil for next time. It really works!

Hi Bobby, I’ve still got sinus problems myself even worse then before being dizziness, ear popping, headaches and slight tinnitis. I’m afraid to take anything the dr suggests as I would never have been in this situation if they only knew what they were doing in the first place. I found the best thing I tried for the anxiety was “ashwaghanda” but I stopped as after I took it I had a severe reoccurance of peripheral neuropathy. I might try it again if I don’t improve soon to see, as for the sinus issues I’m at a loss at how to deal with it I’m hoping it will magically go away. Who know maybe a few months from now we can write our own recovery stories 🙂 hopefuly!

My biggest obstacle right now seems to be determining if my chronic Sinusitis is causing a lot of my symptoms or the levaquin. I have fatigue, I have congestion, I have headaches, but I had a lot of that before the levaquin. My anxiety is still full force, but I don’t know if that’s because I have anxiety about having anxiety, or if it’s still the drug. It’s a nightmare.

Physically, I’d say I feel 75% better tendon pain wise (but I have yet to go back to the gym, so I feel that’d be the real test). The burning has subsided a bit, but I still feel it significantly. Anyone relate to the burning thing? My appetite is still meh. I can eat, but I’ve lost all of my desire for pleasure eating. And again, I have no idea if this is due to the chronic sinutis or the aftermath of levaquin.

Today marks only the 2 week mark since my last dose. But in terms of my anxiety, it feels like one step forward and then two steps back. I can get through what I absolutely need to get through, and then that’s it. Does anyone recommend lexapro? I’m now starting to REALLY worry if this is all permanent now. after only 3 damn doses…

Taking lavaquin just caused me alot of stomitch issues I got h pylori can’t eat nothing idk wat to do ? What can help me I’m planning to see a natrual pathic doc anyone knows what can help me I’ve took lavaquin back in October n it really messed my body up n my stomitch but I can’t eat nothing it hard for me .

Wow, this story is so much similar to mine after pneumonia and Levaquin. I am a runner and had terrible tendonitis for a few months after going off the med. Got that under control, then I started having random panic attacks starting a few weeks after going off of Levaquin. At first, they were almost 30 days apart. That went on for 4 months, then they started becoming more frequent. I was having 3 or 4 per day. There was never any reason for them. I was not stressed at work, I live a pretty peaceful and happy life. Wife is wonderful, 3 boys doing well in college. One day, I had 11 panic attacks in one day. I went for a short run trying to stop them, but had 2 panic attacks during my run. So, after 18 months of panic attacks and depression, it was time to go to the Dr. I have no history of depression or panic attacks so it is more than just a coincidence. Dr. put me on some anti depressants indicating it was one of 3 possible things. Heart palpitations, anxiety and depression, or my lungs are not taking in enough oxygen and the body responds. Now I am just sleepy, unmotivated, in a daze. It worked though. I went 3 months without an episode. So, I tried to go off of the drug gradually over several months. But then the panic attacks came back with vengeance. I started having daily panic attacks. So, it took several weeks of pill popping to stop the panic attacks. I have tried several times to go off the anti depressant with the same result. I guess this will be my life from now on. Sleepy, in a daze, forgetful, unmotivated. Went back to Dr. to refill my meds. He said ‘now we know what it is. Anxiety. You will be taking this for the rest of your life.’. The thought of that really stinks.

I’m so sorry for everything that you have been through, and everything you’re still going through! Please know that people have gotten through fluoroquinolone-induced anxiety, and that there is hope for you too. It’s really depressing and disheartening to hear from a doctor that you will have to deal with this forever, but try not to let that prognosis get you down. Your doctor should be trying to help you to overcome this, not depressing you (though I doubt that he intended to do that). Seeing as people have recovered from anxiety and anxiety attacks, I don’t know how your doctor supposes that he knows that you’ll be dealing with this forever. He doesn’t know that. Your body, mind, and spirit have remarkable healing powers. Try to believe that you can get through this.

Have you read Ruth’s story on this site? She has a lot of great advice in her story, and in the comments on it, for overcoming fluoroquinolone related anxiety.

Some things that helped me to get through the anxiety and loss of motivation are:
1. Meditation
2. Magnesium supplementation
3. Brewer’s yeast (I think the uridine and B vitamins in it helped)
4. Going on relaxing vacations
5. Getting away from anxiety-inducing stimuli
6. Paradoxically, getting angry about this whole thing helped me to feel more in-control and less anxious.

If you’re on benzodiazepines, please be very careful getting off of them. Find a doctor who specializes in weaning you off of them, and also look into the Ashton Manual for help.

Kevin, please don’t think that. I was on different anti-depressants for decades. I was told I would have to be on them for life, but I didn’t buy that. I weaned myself off slowly after starting on turmeric (95% curcuminoids) and I was doing GREAT until the Cipro. (BTW they did studies showing turmeric more effective than Prozac…AND another study showed they were no better than a placebo.)

So, my floxing, which I don’t want to review for the 90th time was horrendous. I wanted out. Vision issues, breathing problems, mobility problems, excruciating pain asphyxiated by even the mildest scent, paranoia, suicidal thoughts (constant) and anxiety / panic beyond description. Here’s a little snapshot of when I was actually a little BETTER. I was shopping in trader joes (I would stand in front of shelves and just cry, knowing I could not at that point eat almost anything they sold.) At one point a woman’s cart tapped my cart, gently. I stood frozen in absolute fear, like a deer caught in the headlights. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, I just stood there while tears rolled down my eyes. This poor woman kept asking if I was ok, and if she could do anything. I literally could not speak. She finally walked away. I wasn’t able to move for another 30 seconds or so.

If I was driving and someone so much as honked at me, I had to pull off the road because I would be so freaked out. I couldn’t listen to music or watch tv for months because it was too agitating. Still, given all that, I refused to go on any kinds of meds. (And I was seeing an excellent ND who would not have encouraged me to take any pharmaceuticals and in fact would have been cautioning me not to.)

Additionally, you are adding MORE possible side effects now into the mix. I would be wary of any medication post-floxing. If I were in your shoes, I would start on a good turmeric (95% curcuminoids) and then after a few weeks, start to wean off the antidepressant. (You need to go slowly or you can end up with some pretty awful side effects.)

BTW, I no longer take the turmeric. Never did go back on antidepressants, in spite of going through a year of post -Cipro mental hell. I just toughed it out. And this was after more than 40 years on antidepressants I was told I would need for life.

I was prescribe This meds for severe asthma is has been my worst experience ever I go to the doctor and let them know is the antibiotic that is causing severe anxiety and they ignore me I just took 3 dose of 500mg but I have 5days with no sleep and palpitations muscle stress on the back and neck numbness cold sweat hot flash in chest and back i suffer anxiety and depression already but it was under control with serterline hopefully I will recover soon with faith

For asthma???? Why would they give you a fluoroquinolone for asthma? Did you have asthma with pneumonia? That’s nuts. Sorry it happened. And if you are on steroidal asthma meds the steroids don’t help with the reaction.

I too had my depression and snxiety inder control with sertraline, it no longer works since taking this horrendous antibiotic. Im suffering terrible amd debilitating depression, anxiety and now a new problem…panic attacks! Which i never had before!

Thank you so much for sharing your story! I went from a happy and quite optimistic person who was taking classes in college to a depressed, anxious, panic fueled mess who had to drop college after taking this medication this past March! I’ve lost all interest in life, I’m so terribly depressed and hopeless, I’m tired and I am in such emotional pain all bc of this drug. I’m hoping that with time I will get better bc I don’t think I can go on like this. It’s awful! And had I know this drugs effects I would never ever have taken it, it has stolen my life and livelihood at the moment and I’ve had no relief since the day I started it. Your story gives me a glimmer of hope and I won’t give up trying to find myself again.

You will get through this. I was suicidal for months because of these toxins…out of control anxiety, horrific depression, paranoia, and over 30 physical side effects, including vision problems, a sensation of choking, struggling for each breath and nightmarish nerve damage to where everything in the world asphyxiated me. I am not sure how I got through. I didn’t expect to. But I did. You will too. Just hand in there. Eat clean, avoid fluoride, gmos, and any meats that are not organic. Make sure to get enough magnesium, take good probiotics and do breathing exercises to switch into parasympathetic mode.

I too have all sorts of other crazy physical side effects as well! Thank you SO much for your story and reply, it really helps so much to hear another’s story and their hope and to know I’m not alone. I feel like I’m going crazy and I just want my life back! I’ve started magnesium and been on probiotics so I guess I’m on the right track! Blessings to you!

TrevorJuly 7, 2018 at 10:46 pm

It’s going to all leave . First off get off these sites. The people on here will cause you to go into a state of even more panic and despair. I’ve spoken to 50 people. You’ll heal . But it will take a year . If you eat super clean stay positive and stay off these sites you’ll be fine. The people that healed all had clean healthy lifestyles. The ones that stayed sick are the ones that kept taking benzodiazepines and when asked what they did for health one literally stayed heroin . Another …. cocaine .